A comprehensive expedition conducted by scientists from the National Institute of Deserts, Flora, and Fauna of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, together with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has concluded in Turkmenistan. This was reported by ussatnews.com, citing turkmenistan.ru.

During the expedition, scientists explored the central part of the Karakum Desert, the Bokurdak and Yerbent regions, the Darvaza gas crater, as well as the Kaplankyr State Nature Reserve and the Repetek Biosphere Reserve.

The expedition members monitored the flora and fauna, collected soil samples, and established special sites to study desertification processes.

The materials collected during the expedition will be used in the preparation of a new edition of the Red Book of Turkmenistan and an atlas of desert plants.

Scientists from China intend to use the obtained data to study the landscapes of the Karakum Desert and conduct a comparative analysis of the Karakum and Taklamakan Deserts, the source notes.